This week, CSEA testified at a legislative hearing to examine the barriers to accessing quality child day care. CSEA’s testimony focused on expanding and protecting access to safe and affordable childcare for working families and investing in the childcare workforce.

A.3198A – Paulin / S.2911A – Croci: Authorizes paid time off for state employees that are combat veterans in order to obtain health care services related to their military service.

S.4574A – Marchione / A.6903A – Brindisi: Requires the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to annually report the ratio of non-administrative staff to facility residents. In addition, this report must detail the number of employees who are out of work on workers’ compensation.

A.6416A – Abbate / S.5877A – Golden:Allow all honorably discharged veterans to be eligible for civil service credits for appointments and promotions. Current law provides that only veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty during specific times or in specific theatres of war may receive civil service credits for their service.

A.7396A – Gunther / S.5680 – Ortt: Prohibits a state agency from decreasing full time equivalent (FTE) positions if more than 25% of their employees worked overtime the previous year.

Comptroller DiNapoli announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund posted an estimated 11.42% return on investments during fiscal year 2016-17. The total value of the fund grew from $178.6 billion at the end of 2016 to $192 billion at the end of 2017. New York continues to have one of the best funded pension systems in the country under the leadership of the Comptroller.

Special Elections

Democratic candidates won both legislative special elections this week. Brian Benjamin won the race in the 30th Senate District, replacing former Senator Bill Perkins, now a member of the New York City Council. In the State Assembly, Christine Pellegrino won the race for the 9th Assembly District, which was vacated when Assemblyman Joe Saladino was appointed Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay.

Trump Budget

President Trump released his 2018 budget proposal this week.

Over the next decade, the proposal would cut Medicaid spending by $800 billion, cut Social Security Disability Insurance by $72 billion, and slash the budgets of essentially every federal agency and department. Sixty-six programs would be eliminated entirely. To achieve the appearance of a balanced budget in ten years, the proposal depends on an extremely questionable assumption of $2 trillion in economic growth to be created by the President’s proposed tax cuts.

The President’s budget proposal would devastate many of the programs that CSEA members depend on in their professional and personal lives. Stay tuned for more information on the proposal as it becomes available.

At a Glance

State legislators will be in their home districts next week, and will return on June 5. There are 11 scheduled session days remaining in the 2017 legislative session.

Memorial Day

While Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of the summer season for many, it is important that we remember the significance of Memorial Day. CSEA recognizes the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country so that we may enjoy our freedoms.

Effective February 20, 2017, the Empire Plan carriers, United HealthCare and Empire BlueCross, will cover services for 3D mammograms. Until recently, 3D mammogram tomography has been considered an unproven technology by many insurance plans, including the Empire Plan. Consistent with a recent Circular Letter by the NYS Department of Financial Services, the Empire Plan will cover in-network 3D mammogram services with no copayment and non-network 3D mammogram services will be covered, subject to deductible and coinsurance. Claims for 3D mammogram services rendered on or after February 20, 2017 which were previously processed and denied by Empire Blue Cross and/or United HealthCare will be readjusted as a covered service.

Local 907 Steuben, Allegany and Yates Oct. 25 at the Lakeside Restaurant, 13780A West Lake Road, Hammondsport (Route 54A, approximately halfway between Branchport and Hammondsport).

Local 909 Duchess-Putnam Sept. 21 at the CSEA Southern Region office, Rt. 52, Beacon; Oct. 19 at the CSEA Southern Region office, Rt. 52, Beacon (sign up and pay for holiday luncheon); Nov. 16 Holiday Luncheon at the CSEA Southern Region office (sign up and pay for Christmas Party); Dec. 14 Christmas Party at the Italian Center, 227 Mill St. , Poughkeepsie. All meetings and events start at noon. A light lunch will be served at the CSEA Southern Region office at all meetings.

Local 910 New York Sept. 19 and Nov. 21 General Membership Meeting at 1 p.m. at the CSEA Metropolitan Region Office, 125 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10038.

Local 915 Jefferson-Lewis Sept. 20 at noon at the The Ramada Inn, 21000 NYS Route 3, Watertown. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Local President Fred Gerloff by Sept. 13 at 315-222-6199 or fgerloff@twcny.rr.com.

A.2229 – Gunther: Requires a notice of closure to expire after one year and one month within OMH.

Additionally, the Assembly passed legislation that would give the Office of the State Comptroller authority to audit local development corporations (LDCs). Increasingly, LDCs are being used to finance the day-to-day operations of local governments. This legislation would provide critical oversight of the use of taxpayer money.

An audit released by Comptroller DiNapoli this week showed that the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) has failed to meet reporting requirements for its economic development programs.

ESDC’s audited financial statements show that it spent almost $2 billion on economic development grants and hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, tax credits, and other incentives between April 2012 and September 2016. But according to the Comptroller’s audit report, ESDC failed to complete more than half of the performance and outcome reports it was required to produce during those years.

The Comptroller’s report highlights the lack of public accountability in State tax credits and other job-creation programs. CSEA will continue to advocate for more transparency and oversight of economic development programs.

School District Budget Votes

Voters approved roughly 99% of school district budgets this week. With a tax cap of 1.26% for the 2017-18 fiscal year, 12 districts sought to override the cap. Three of those budgets failed to pass.

Thank you to all who supported our schools.

At a Glance

The legislature will be in Albany for three days next week before heading back to their home districts for a week. The legislature will then return on June 5 for the final weeks of session.

Looking to step up in our union? One way to learn more about CSEA and work toward becoming a certified shop steward is by attending our Steward Workshop, scheduled for May 23 and 24 at the Southern Region Office in Beacon.

Space remains in this training, so please sign up ASAP. Whether you’re new to union activism or a seasoned leader, there’s good material for everyone in this training!

The recently enacted 2017-18 State budget removed important reporting requirements for the START-UP NY program. This week, CSEA issued a memorandum in support of legislation (A.7427 – Schimminger / S.5985 – Boyle) that would reinstitute and expand those reporting requirements. CSEA has opposed the START-UP NY program since its inception, and New Yorkers should know whether their taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.

Legislation that would give the Office of the State Comptroller oversight over local development corporations (LDCs) has made it to the floor of both houses. CSEA strongly supports this legislation (A.3047 – Magnarelli / S.4827 – Marchione), which will hold LDCs responsible to the taxpayers that fund their operations.

Legislation that would establish caseload standards for child protective services workers made it to the floor of the Assembly this week. This legislation (A.4049 – Lupardo / S.3146 – Golden), strongly supported by CSEA, has already passed the Senate.

Chair of Assembly Ways & Means Committee Won’t Run in 2018

Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell (D-Manhattan), announced this week that he will not seek re-election in 2018. Farrell, who has served in the legislature for 42 years, chairs the Assembly’s powerful Ways and Means Committee. The Chairman has not indicated whether or not he will serve out the remainder of his term before stepping down.

Constitutional Convention Fact

The rights to join a union and collectively bargain are guaranteed in the state constitution. A state constitutional convention controlled by corporations and their lobbyists could eliminate this guarantee.

At a Glance
The state legislature will be in session for three days next week. There are 17 days remaining in the 2017 legislative session.

Over 100 CSEA activists gathered Saturday, May 6, 2017 for the Southern Region One Day Conference, held this year at the Hyatt House in Fishkill.

The conference was open to CSEA members from across the Hudson Valley and Westchester. Workshops included: active shooter training, responsible social media usage, an update on the Justice Center, and an info session from the New York State and Local Retirement System. The day concluded with a plenary session featuring Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo and CSEA Legislative Director Joshua Terry, who discussed the current challenges we are facing on both the state and national levels.

Riccaldo welcomed all the first-time conference attendees, and extended thanks to the Southern Region Education and Programs Committee and CSEA staff for their help in planning the event. He said he hopes to increase the number of shorter trainings, allowing for greater accessibility for rank-and-file members.